Skimmer stops making bubbles

mdog3000 · 05/03/2008, 11:18 AM

I have a Octopus 150 Recirculating skimmer, and sometimes it just stops making bubbles or makes so few that they don't reach the skimmer cup. How can I change how many bubbles are being made? Thanks

tpenn187 · 05/03/2008, 12:20 PM

when are they not being made, such as when you feed, put your hand in the tank? sometimes oils from foods and your hand could effect a skimmer. have you done any mods yet?

mdog3000 · 05/03/2008, 12:23 PM

It just occurs at random times. And no I haven't made any mods.

Aquarist007 · 05/03/2008, 12:25 PM

when was the last time you cleaned out the pump and air venturi
my pump needs it once a month--there is salt precitation in the air venturi and the pump is full of copopods

mdog3000 · 05/03/2008, 12:46 PM

How do I clean the air venturi?

Paul_PSU · 05/03/2008, 01:04 PM

If you are dosing calcium the vernturi will will get build up from that also. Like Capn said, I clean mine out once a month also. Just look where the airline intake is attached to the skimmer pump and take it off. You will see white inside there blocking the venturi valve. I usually just get a paperclip and scrap it out. Mine was getting clogged all the time and the last time I actually got a drill and made the hole bigger. I get more bubbles now and venturi is not nearly as clogged when I clean it.

Toddrtrex · 05/03/2008, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Paul_PSU
If you are dosing calcium the vernturi will will get build up from that also. Like Capn said, I clean mine out once a month also. Just look where the airline intake is attached to the skimmer pump and take it off. You will see white inside there blocking the venturi valve. I usually just get a paperclip and scrap it out. Mine was getting clogged all the time and the last time I actually got a drill and made the hole bigger. I get more bubbles now and venturi is not nearly as clogged when I clean it.

That is what I did to all of my ASM skimmers that I have. Really improved the performance. I just used my dremel.

mdog3000 · 05/03/2008, 01:41 PM

Alright. I tried sticking a paper clip up the intake and got some little crusties out. Also kicked up the flow of the water going through the skimmer. Ill see how that works. Thanks

Paul_PSU · 05/03/2008, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Toddrtrex
That is what I did to all of my ASM skimmers that I have. Really improved the performance. I just used my dremel.

A picture is worth a 1,000 words

Aquarist007 · 05/03/2008, 05:22 PM

If I leave the berlin--I have to take a nail and a hammer to it-put it in the vise and really whack it--it gets clogged solid
but this is the case when the air stopped completely--in your case with varible air flow it could be copopods inside the pump housing or even a small piece of detrius

this is why you need to vacuum dry your sump everyonce and awhile esp if you have a lot of live rock in there

05/03/2008, 11:18 AM	#1
mdog3000 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 125	Skimmer stops making bubbles I have a Octopus 150 Recirculating skimmer, and sometimes it just stops making bubbles or makes so few that they don't reach the skimmer cup. How can I change how many bubbles are being made? Thanks __________________ If you don't stand behind our troops, please feel free to stand in front of them. Current Tank Info: 125 gallon reef, 55 planted freshwater tank.

05/03/2008, 12:23 PM	#3
mdog3000 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 125	It just occurs at random times. And no I haven't made any mods. __________________ If you don't stand behind our troops, please feel free to stand in front of them. Current Tank Info: 125 gallon reef, 55 planted freshwater tank.

05/03/2008, 12:25 PM	#4
Aquarist007 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hamilton, Canada Posts: 28,240 Blog Entries: 1	when was the last time you cleaned out the pump and air venturi my pump needs it once a month--there is salt precitation in the air venturi and the pump is full of copopods __________________ I prefer my substrates stirred but not shaken Current Tank Info: 150gal long mixed reef, 90gal sump, 60 gal refugium with 200 lbs live rock

05/03/2008, 12:46 PM	#5
mdog3000 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 125	How do I clean the air venturi? __________________ If you don't stand behind our troops, please feel free to stand in front of them. Current Tank Info: 125 gallon reef, 55 planted freshwater tank.

05/03/2008, 01:41 PM	#8
mdog3000 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 125	Alright. I tried sticking a paper clip up the intake and got some little crusties out. Also kicked up the flow of the water going through the skimmer. Ill see how that works. Thanks __________________ If you don't stand behind our troops, please feel free to stand in front of them. Current Tank Info: 125 gallon reef, 55 planted freshwater tank.

05/03/2008, 12:20 PM	#2
tpenn187 Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: central illinois Posts: 630	when are they not being made, such as when you feed, put your hand in the tank? sometimes oils from foods and your hand could effect a skimmer. have you done any mods yet?

05/03/2008, 01:04 PM	#6
Paul_PSU Moved On Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Pittsburgh, PA. Posts: 1,512	If you are dosing calcium the vernturi will will get build up from that also. Like Capn said, I clean mine out once a month also. Just look where the airline intake is attached to the skimmer pump and take it off. You will see white inside there blocking the venturi valve. I usually just get a paperclip and scrap it out. Mine was getting clogged all the time and the last time I actually got a drill and made the hole bigger. I get more bubbles now and venturi is not nearly as clogged when I clean it.

05/03/2008, 05:22 PM	#10
Aquarist007 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hamilton, Canada Posts: 28,240 Blog Entries: 1	If I leave the berlin--I have to take a nail and a hammer to it-put it in the vise and really whack it--it gets clogged solid but this is the case when the air stopped completely--in your case with varible air flow it could be copopods inside the pump housing or even a small piece of detrius this is why you need to vacuum dry your sump everyonce and awhile esp if you have a lot of live rock in there __________________ I prefer my substrates stirred but not shaken Current Tank Info: 150gal long mixed reef, 90gal sump, 60 gal refugium with 200 lbs live rock